The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-05
rosTLETHwAlrE's SAD FATE.

q.
Joseph Postlethwaite, aged 81, and his
sons,S s,Spcncer, aged is, and Henry,sged II,
were sitting in the same seat in the
smoker and their charred remains were
found in the ruins Of the car. Mr.. Pos.
his vile, the two boys, seven
year-old girl by former wife and little
boy OF five yeare, and q baby girl of two
yaars, mad sold their farm OF $50 acres in
Wetzel county, w. Va, and were moving
10 Chillicothe, Mo. He had about $500 in
Cash, q check for 5000 and several notes in
his pucset and these. were; burned with
bis body, leaving the poor widow with
thrso children, no clothing except, what
she wore, and fifty, cents in money. Her
husband and the two boys had loft her
but few moments before and gone from
the coach to the emoker. Postlewaite, as
/. half melted medal found in the wreck
indicated, was a soldicr in the Union
ranks in the late war, being a member OF
Company A, Seventeenth Regiment West
Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
VIM. Fredericss, fireman OF the express,
was caught between the tender and engine
and lived for two hours, but it was found
impossible 10 release him. His mother is q
widow, and lives in Washington, D. O.
His face in death depicted the ogony of
his suIerings before death came to his re-
lief. NJ. H.. Parks, whose address could
not be learned, was also wedged in the
wreck and burned to odesth after handing
his money, letters and cards to one Of the
railroad employees. His body was also
consumed, as we're those Of several others
whose names are unknown and perhaps
never will be. When the reporter reached
the scene OF the holocaust at ono o'clock
to-day the ruins Of the baggage, express
cara and smoker and coach were still
burning, and scores OF hands were en-.
deavorlng to clear the track. Here and
there could be seen spots OF blood and
pieces OF half burned and frozen human
flesh, and the. .workmen vera still finding
portions Of bodies in the burning wreck.
All the mail, express and baggage were
burned, INCLUDING large sums OF money.
MADE STRONG HEARTS QUAIL.
The scene at the Chamberlain under
taking establishment was ono calculated
to made the stou.est hearts quail. Nine
ahapeless trunks Of human beings were
ou! in a row like 30 many
charred logs. There were Pos.lcthwaite
and his two sons, side by nido, and seven
others, none Of whom could be recogniz I'd,
and near them a mass OF flash md bone
that may have been parts OF bodies of a
doz N different people. AT the depot was
found Wm. ]. Smith, Of Waynesborough,
Pa, who was passenger in the coach next
to the, sleepers. He was sitting in the
front part OF the 'csr,y and when the col.
lisiou occurred he was thrown viole ntly
against the front door OF tho car, but not
injured in the least. He aail he did not
think there had bsen collision, but that
the train had run OF the track. He helped
ladies IN the car gather, up their
wraps, and said when he wont baca TO his
seat he noticed tho smoker in flames and
cav an Immigrant jump 0from the car
through the roof and a wall Of flames.
He said no Que in the coach was hurt
seriously. sgt5 y .3Igas i,--,s:..slss 80 y
W. S. Pierce, the Express Messepger,
was burned TO crisp. His home Is al
Wheeling, w. Va. There were no doubts
that'm more porished In the wreck, as
the number OF persons who escaped and
the remains recovered Is not equal to the
number reported in the car... The number
actually los. may never be known.
Ga number Of watches .wers found in
the wreck, and one Of them is described q,